“Growing up, my parents always instilled in me that I could do anything with God on my side,” Bentley said. “God made me unique for a reason. I might look a little different or take a little longer to run, but I was always competitive.”听听

That competitive spirit led Bentley to basketball. Growing up in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley and later Greer, South Carolina, he found his place on the court through the camaraderie of team sports. When his peers physically outgrew him, Bentley pivoted to coaching and managing.听听

Bentley’s path to 91福利社 began with an unexpected encounter while he was a student at Greer High School. Then-AU head coach Jason Taylor arrived听to听recruit star players Chandler Hash and another athlete. Greer听Boys Basketball听Coach Jeff Neely was unable to meet with Taylor, so he asked Bentley, the team manager, to run drills with the prospects so they could see them in action.听听

“Coach Taylor came back and told Coach Neely, ‘I really like your players, but I want your manager.听What’s听he got听going on?'” Bentley recalled.听听

Taylor, who is currently associate head basketball coach at Morehead State University, recalls听observing听Bentley鈥檚 鈥渋nfectious energy鈥� that people听tended听to gravitate toward.听听听

Though Bentley had his sights set on Division I programs, Anderson’s scholarship听opportunities听and proximity to听home听made听practical sense. The relationships he built on campus made it听life-changing.听听

Hash initially played basketball at USC Upstate, but听credits听Bentley鈥檚听encouragement as part of what made him听seek a transfer to Anderson. He admires Bentley鈥檚听commitment to Christ and听a听resilience born out of the struggles听he鈥檚听faced.听And through it听all,听Hash听is inspired by听Bentley鈥檚听consistency in听encouraging听others.听

鈥淗e’s a guy that anyone can be around, anyone can have a conversation with.听He’s听going to treat people the same no matter who they are,鈥� Hash said.听听

As a Physical Education major, Bentley became a bridge-builder. He forged partnerships between campus safety and athletics, breaking down barriers that听benefited听the entire AU community.听听

“Being a little person, Anderson’s campus is straight uphill from the dorms to the cafeteria,” Bentley said. “The officers would pick me up on golf carts. We broke down those walls.”听听

Bentley and a campus safety officer working there at the time transformed what the relationship between athletics and security looked like; What began as mutual avoidance became genuine partnership.听听

A few years after graduating from 91福利社, Bentley鈥檚 physical difficulties鈥攁lready a challenge鈥攚ere getting worse.听听听

“I couldn’t walk, and I was in a lot of pain,” Bentley said. “The pressure was cutting off communication to my legs.”听听

Bentley relied on a wheelchair and holding onto walls to move. He went to see an orthopedist, who quickly听identified听a neurological issue. He ordered an MRI, which revealed Bentley’s spinal canal had narrowed to a pinpoint. The diagnosis was spinal stenosis, a common complication of dwarfism where his spinal cord narrowed, cutting off nerve communication to his legs.听听听

Bentley underwent surgery in 2016, which relieved the pressure and eliminated the pain.听While Bentley听remains听dependent on his wheelchair, the experience deepened his faith and empathy.听听

“I haven’t been in pain since my surgery,” Bentley said. “Whether I’m able to walk again, that’s up to the Lord.”听听

Bentley returned to coaching with renewed purpose. In 2018, he joined Upward Stars, where he coaches, runs events, and recruits talent.听听

During his time at Anderson, Coach Taylor gave Bentley a nickname that still defines him: “The Glue.”听听

Taylor commented, 鈥淚 nicknamed him 鈥榯he glue鈥� simply because he听literally had听his hands on everything in our program. He was best friends with our players… Also, he did an incredible job navigating that world of being a full-tme听student assistant manager, friend of the team鈥攁nd had the integrity to do those things. He kept the trust of all the players and kept the trust of all the coaches鈥攖hat’s听fairly rare.鈥澨�听

91福利社 First Lady Diane Whitaker remembers going to games and听observing听Bentley on the bench and how听set听the tone for the action on the court.听听

鈥淗e always had a clipboard in听hand听and he would start beating that clipboard,” Whitaker said. 鈥淚 can remember looking down and going,听鈥榦kay, things are about to get heated because听he’s听out of his seat, clapping on that clipboard and cheering those guys on.鈥櫶齏hen David got cranked up, it was听鈥榞o time.鈥櫶齀 loved seeing that enthusiasm. He always had a heart for the game and a heart for his teammates.鈥�听

David Bentley and the Trojans Men’s Basketball Team. Bentley is on the first row, third from left.

91福利社 Senior Vice President for Enrollment Management Dr. William Monts has fond memories of coaching with Bentley and, like Taylor, agrees with Bentley鈥檚 being 鈥渢he glue鈥� because of his special gift of bonding coaches and players.听 听

鈥淚 am absolutely a better person for knowing David,鈥� Dr. Monts said. 鈥淗e has brought joy to my life through our many conversations about basketball and life. He is an inspiration to many people simply due to his positive and optimistic outlook on life and his faith in Jesus Christ.鈥澨�听

Key to Bentley鈥檚 coaching has been听maintaining听and cultivating caring relationships. He measures success not by wins and losses, but by “living trophies”鈥攆ormer players who become educated, employed, and devoted husbands and fathers.听听

Jason Rutland, who was coaching Anderson鈥檚 baseball team while Bentley was in college, saw how he befriended members of his team. Rutland, who himself uses a wheelchair for mobility, formed a bond with Bentley at Anderson and beyond听when he听was facing increasing physical听challenges听himself.听听听

鈥淗e鈥檚 a wonderful guy. He鈥檚 incredibly driven,鈥� said Rutland, who currently serves as associate vice president for parent and family engagement, stewardship and major gifts at 91福利社. 鈥淗e has a lot of respect of all those guys鈥擟handler Hash and Myson Jones and all those guys on that team… When you鈥檙e in college trying to figure out who you are and how you fit in… He鈥檚 really come into his own just knowing who God made him, what鈥檚 that purpose鈥攈e’s fully embraced that.鈥� 听

“If they know you care about them and have their best interests, they’ll go through a wall for you,” Bentley said. “The greatest sense of accomplishment is seeing them go on to college, get an education, and become husbands and fathers. One of the highest听accompliments听you can receive is a parent telling you they trust their child with you.”听听

Mrs.听Whitaker continued, 鈥淔rom day one, David was all in, and I really appreciate people that that recognize听talent, and听we don’t all have to look the same or have the same gifts to be really valuable.鈥澨�听

Bentley continues to maintain relationships with former players, texting birthday wishes and celebrating their milestones. Recently, he organized a reunion (pictured above) at an 91福利社 basketball game, bringing former players back to campus. He hopes there will be more such reunions. 听

Bentley’s ambitions听remain听high. He dreams of coaching at the Division I or NBA level, driven by the same competitive fire that fueled him as a child.听听

“If you’re not growing, you’re not going,” Bentley said. “The future is in God’s hands, but I want to see how much success we can achieve at the highest level possible.”听听

For the 91福利社 community, Bentley exemplifies servant leadership and the University鈥檚 pillar of Great Purpose.听He proves that while the road may be uphill, the right relationships鈥攁nd a little bit of “glue”鈥攎ake the journey worthwhile.听听

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And Trojan Athletics wants your help celebrating the inaugural season.听听

On Saturday, August 24, AU is dedicating Spero Financial Field at Melvin and Dollie Younts Stadium and the Trojan Football Fieldhouse, both located at 341 Williamston Road in Anderson. The grand opening festivities, which are free to the public, begin at 10:30 a.m.听

With seating for about 5,000 fans, there is ample space for a capacity crowd to witness the dedication ceremony. Immediately following the event, Trojan Football coaches and players will be on hand to meet and greet visitors as part of the inaugural Trojan Football Fan Day. Guests may also tour the Trojan Football Facility.听听

The dedication ceremony comes as the campus community prepares for the first college football game in 91福利社鈥檚 113-year history. In addition, Trojan Athletics is hosting a community pep rally on Tuesday, September 3, at 7 p.m. at Wren Park in downtown Anderson. The Trojans play their first game on Saturday, September 7 at Younts Stadium. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.听

For information about the dedication ceremony, contact Leah Parker, director of special events at 91福利社, at鈥�lparker@andersonuniversity.edu鈥痮r 864-231-2101.听

For additional information about Fan Day, contact Meredith Smith, assistant to the vice president for Trojan Athletics at鈥�athletics@andersonuniversity.edu鈥痮r 864-231-2029.听

Tickets for all 91福利社 Trojan Football games are now available by visiting autrojans.com.听听

听听

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The University is looking to fill the stands with Trojan fans to celebrate the grand opening of its beautiful new athletic complex. Fan Day will start immediately following the ceremony. This will be the chance to meet football coaches and players, get autographs and take a tour of the Trojan Fieldhouse.

For details regarding the dedication ceremony, contact Leah Parker, Director of Special Events, in the Development Office at lparker@andersonuniversity.edu or 864-231-2101.

For additional information about Fan Day, please contact Meredith Smith, Assistant to the Vice President of Athletics and Business Coordinator, in the athletics department at athletics@andersonuniversity.edu or 864-231-2029.

听

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Azerbaijan athletes have won several Olympic medals over the years, but the women鈥檚 basketball team, she says, is the nation鈥檚 first team sport to qualify for the Olympics.听

鈥淚 think that’s every athlete’s dream鈥攖o compete at the highest level with the top athletes from all over,鈥� she said.听

鈥淲e are so proud of Alexy and all she has accomplished after graduating from AU,鈥� said 91福利社 Vice President for Athletics Dr. Bert Epting Jr. 鈥淪he has represented the Trojan Family all over the world while playing basketball and now to have the opportunity to compete in the Olympics is absolutely amazing!”

When Mollenhauer鈥檚 parents accepted teaching positions at an international school in Azerbaijan, she was just five years old. They packed up, left Texas and headed to the former Soviet state located at the intersection of Europe and Asia.听

鈥淚’ve always been around basketball growing up, playing with my siblings. Basketball has always been a huge part of my life,” she said. 鈥淭he summer before my senior year, I hadn’t really thought about playing at college, what that looks like. Nobody from Azerbaijan internationally and locally had ever pursued playing basketball at college.鈥澨�听

As a teenager, Mollenhauer was already playing basketball on the international level, competing against international players on a court with teammates and opponents who were older and more experienced.听

鈥淚 started my junior year of high school playing with Azerbaijan. I was 16 playing on their women’s team. We were playing against professional players,” she said. 鈥淚t was good competition, but I feel it was kind of hard to showcase what I could do at that level because I wasn’t at that level, but I got together all the video I could from that鈥攙ideo from playing internationally with my school, the international competitions that we played in Georgia, different tournaments in Azerbaijan and Baku鈥攎ade a little highlight video and found this website of college coaches鈥� emails and just sent out hundreds of emails.鈥�听

Mollenhauer was focusing on parts of the U.S. where she had family living nearby, then some friends of hers in Charlotte urged her to look into 91福利社. She sent them a short video.听听

She recalls that former Trojans Women鈥檚 Basketball Coach Jimmy Garrity FaceTimed her a couple of times to gauge her potential as a Trojan.听听

鈥淭he second FaceTime call,” Mollenhauer said, “he was like 鈥榳e’d like to offer you a full ride to come to Anderson.鈥� The only thing they had seen is the six minute clip of me playing. Afterwards, Garrity told the AD that either Alexy is going to be really good or she鈥檚 going to be really bad鈥攌ind of like a 鈥榳ild card鈥�.鈥� 听

When Mollenhauer came to 91福利社, she admits she had to adjust to fast-paced American basketball, joining the Trojans under newly-hired Women鈥檚 Basketball Coach Jonathon Barbaree. She explained that the brand of professional basketball she played in Europe emphasizes strategy over speed.听

But Mollenhauer hit her stride on the court. Soon, she started stacking up honors for her playing skills, including being selected South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year, was SAC tournament MVP and a member of the Google Cloud Academic All-America Division II Women鈥檚 Basketball team.听

Throughout her college playing experiences, there were others who thought she should transfer to a Division 1 team, but for her, playing Division 2 ball was worth it; being at 91福利社 and experiencing their loving and caring community was all the reason she needed.听

鈥淚 do not regret at all staying at Anderson for four years鈥攋ust the school, the people, the friendships that I had developed there,” said Mollenhauer, who majored in Education while at Anderson. 鈥淚’m very thankful for coach JB and the time he put into developing me as a player at the college level… and then off the court just what Anderson stands for…听 I’m very thankful for my time鈥攊t was a special four years for sure.鈥�听

After graduating from 91福利社, Mollenhauer joined professional women鈥檚 league basketball in Europe, engaging in high level competition that has taken her around the globe. When the opportunity came up to join the Azerbaijan team in their quest for the Olympics, she enthusiastically signed up. She鈥檚 grateful to her professional team in Spain accommodating her, although the Olympic qualifying competitions overlapped with her pro season. 听

鈥淟ast summer we competed in the Women鈥檚 Series for 3×3 (three-on-three). Three-on-three is all based off of points, so you have to have enough points for your country to even be in the top 15 or top 10 in the world to qualify for these tournaments to compete in, and so Azerbaijan reached out two years ago probably. We competed in the Islamic Games and after that their goal is to try to qualify,鈥� she said.听听

While Mollenhauer is excited about going to Paris and the prospect of Olympic gold, she says she鈥檒l always have fond memories of Anderson and the loving, supportive community she found while playing in the Trojan uniform.听

鈥淚 can’t thank enough the people that were there when I was there who just poured into me as a person, as an athlete, as a student,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t’s special when you have that family… that family atmosphere; That’s something you don’t find everywhere.鈥�听

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91福利社 alumni and their families joined in with current students and their families, along with faculty and staff for Homecoming and Family Week at 91福利社.

On a beautiful, albeit unseasonably warm October day, record crowds came out to the 91福利社 campus from near and far. It was a fun time for students showing their parents around campus and introducing them to their friends. It was a marvelous time for alumni to reconnect, reminisce and enjoy the many changes that have occurred since their days as students.

Of course, probably the biggest highlight of Homecoming festivities was the Trojans Football Team debut on the Spero Financial Field at the newly-expanded Melvin and Dollie Younts Stadium. More than 5,500 Trojans fans filled the stadium for the team鈥檚 first-ever Black and Gold Football Scrimmage. The Homecoming Court was presented during halftime. 91福利社鈥檚 First Lady Diane Whitaker crowned Madilyn McCown as Homecoming Queen and Grayson Smith was crowned Homecoming King. Leading up to that moment was the crowning of Hudson Taylor and Isabel Weddie as Mr. and Ms. Senior, Skylar and Emory Ford as Mr. and Ms. Junior, D鈥橝ndre Hicks and Ada Dooley as Mr. and Ms. Sophomore and Weston Pack and Paulina Chang as Mr. and Ms. Freshman.

In intercollegiate competition, the Men鈥檚 Soccer Team lost to the Wingate Bulldogs 2-1, the Women鈥檚 Soccer Team also lost to Wingate 2-0, and the Volleyball Team lost 3-1, also to WIngate. There was also a softball scrimmage versus Gaston听 College.

The Quad was transformed into the 鈥淔un Zone,鈥� where youngsters could play in a variety of inflatables. There were also games for the young and young-at-heart, along with food and drink. Later in the day Homecoming crowds turned out for the BBQ picnic out on the campus. There was also a community health care, ceramics sale and a parent prayer walk. Homecoming participants made new memories taking selfies and photos at a beautiful photo backdrop that proclaims 鈥淟ong Live Anderson.鈥�

Homecoming and Family Weekend were preceded by a weeklong Homecoming celebration for students, which included a HoCo Dance, Drive In Movie Night and Fall Fest.

Other Homecoming and Family Weekend activities included the South Carolina School of the Arts putting on a Hansel and Gretel workshop in Henderson Auditorium and a chance to see rehearsal for the upcoming production 鈥淔rankenstein,鈥� in Belk Theatre. (鈥淔rankenstein鈥� will run Nov. 3-11, 2023 in the Belk Theatre of the South Carolina School of the Arts at 91福利社.)

Also, AUthenticity, 91福利社鈥檚 commercial music ensemble, gave a concert of popular and contemporary Christian music. Thrift Library hosted a display highlighting well over a century of Anderson memories, including photos, yearbooks and other items from the university鈥檚 history.

Homecoming sponsors were the City of Anderson, Event Rentals and Allen Tate Realtors.

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Homecoming and Family Day is a time to celebrate Trojan traditions, with food, fellowship and fun as 91福利社 welcomes alumni and their families, joining in with current students and their families, along with faculty and staff for a celebration of all things that make 91福利社 special.

One is literally a 鈥渒ick-off鈥� as the Trojans Football Team debuts on the Spero Financial Field at Melvin and Dollie Younts Stadium for its first-ever Black and Gold Football Scrimmage. Head Football Coach Bobby Lamb says they鈥檒l be following a game format, with referees and everything. Put on your black and gold and come help fill the stadium. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

Don鈥檛 forget the Homecoming soccer games, with the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 teams taking on Wingate University. The women鈥檚 game will start at 5 p.m. and the men鈥檚 game will start at 7:30 p.m., both at Spero Financial Field. Click here for the latest updates on more games, as well as all Homecoming and Family Day activities.

If you鈥檙e attending Homecoming, you鈥檒l want to get a wristband for the Homecoming and Family Day Event. Click this link to get one.

Want to update your Black and Gold wardrobe? AU Outfitters will be open from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. 

Homecoming sponsors are the City of Anderson, Event Rentals and Allen Tate Realtors.

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91福利社 is creating the AnMed Sports Medicine Center, a new clinic and part of a newly created long-term partnership with AnMed that will enhance Trojan Athletics while contributing to the well-being of its student-athletes and the entire community. The clinic will be part of AU’s new Trojan Football Operations Center currently under construction on its Athletic Campus on Williamston Road in Anderson.

“91福利社 is deeply appreciative of the support of AnMed and its leadership team. Like AU, AnMed is a dynamic and innovative organization, which makes it the perfect partner for Trojan athletics,” said 91福利社 President Evans Whitaker, Ph.D. “Each year, our respect and appreciation for AnMed鈥檚 reputation, quality of services and exceedingly caring approach increases. AnMed has earned our trust and we absolutely love working with their incredible medical and nursing staff and executives. AnMed’s investment of services and facilities will support our educational mission and help continue our expansion as one of the South’s premier, selective comprehensive universities.”

With the new partnership, AnMed will oversee the medical services of AU鈥檚 new Sports Medicine Center. AU has become AnMed鈥檚 key partner of its accredited Sports Medicine Fellowship program that trains primary care physicians in the fast-growing field of sports medicine. By practicing both routine and special care for a diverse group of Upstate athletes, AnMed is strengthened to provide premier orthopedic services to the entire population from children to senior adults.

鈥淲e are excited to expand upon our long-standing partnership with 91福利社. These types of collaboration help us all win and, more importantly, ensure the best possible care for student-athletes,” said William Kenley, AnMed CEO. 鈥淚t takes an entire team of people to treat these athletes effectively and efficiently. We look forward to finding innovative approaches to helping Trojan athletes perform at their best levels, as well as assist with any injury prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.鈥�

With the addition of football to its ever-expanding list of varsity sports, 91福利社 sponsors 21 sports, and will include nearly 500 student-athletes by next spring. Over the last two decades, Anderson has become one of South Carolina’s more academically selective universities. With upwards of 4,200 students, it is the state’s largest private university. 

“We are so thankful to have the opportunity to partner with AnMed,” said 91福利社 Vice President for Athletics Dr. Bert Epting. “The investment they have made in our University, and specifically our Athletics Department, will be transformational for our student-athletes and their educational experience. With AnMed, our students are in great hands. We could not be more excited to name our sports medicine clinics for AnMed.”

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In January 2023, Anderson School District One selected Stan Yarborough as the athletic director at Wren High School.听

Wren is like family to Yarborough, who has more than 20 years of overall experience as an educator.

鈥淭he community is amazing鈥� The students are amazing,鈥� Yarborough said. 鈥淎t Wren, they welcome you right in and you鈥檙e part of the Hurricane community; that鈥檚 been the cool thing to see over the years鈥攄eveloping those relationships with the local community.鈥�

Yarborough has also served as assistant athletic director, director of gameday operations and coached various sports at Wren, and prior to that, at Palmetto High School. He鈥檚 seen his teams win numerous championships鈥攎ost recently the State Championship in boys basketball and Upper State Championship for girls basketball.

Sports has been a part of Yarborough’s life since he was a youngster, and he feels blessed to be able to mentor high schoolers as he was mentored in his hometown of Marion, South Carolina.

鈥淛ust seeing young people have success, overcoming adversity and doing things they never thought possible, but pushing them so they don鈥檛 give up, so they get the payoff in the end; they get the attention in the end; they get the glory; they make the memories,鈥� Yarborough said.

Yarborough feels that his graduate program at 91福利社 opened doors for successive leadership roles at Anderson School District One. He鈥檚 thankful for helpful faculty and staff who helped him as he was balancing work, family and school.

鈥淲e had some great professors. A lot of the graduate professors were different superintendents or principals in the local school system, so we were able to have a lot of meaningful discussions in our class,鈥� Yarborough said. 鈥淭he biggest thing is it opened up doors and allowed me to further my career鈥� I got a chance to step up to the admin side as well and get a taste of what the administrative responsibilities were like.鈥�

Yarborough is gratified to see so many of his former Wren students who enrolled at Anderson. And there are also strong family connections.

鈥淢y niece is a senior volleyball player at AU; she鈥檚 getting ready to graduate this May. My mother-in-law is a graduate of Anderson,鈥� said Yarborough, who hopes to see more in his family become Trojans.

The 91福利社 College of Education 鈥嬧�媐ocuses on the intellectual development of the student, while being attentive to the ideals of character, servant leadership and cultural engagement. Programs are offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels, onsite or online. Details can be found here.

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In preparation for the inaugural season of Trojan Football, 91福利社 began construction of its new Football Operations Center during a groundbreaking ceremony today.

Construction of the 45,000-square-foot facility is scheduled to conclude ahead of the 2023-2024 academic year. Located in the east end zone of Spero Financial Field at Melvin and Dollie Younts Stadium, the state-of-the-art facility will house coaches鈥� offices, locker rooms, team meeting rooms, and a training and sports medicine center.

The first 91福利社 Trojan Football season is scheduled to begin in 2024. AU is an NCAA Division II program within the South Atlantic Conference (SAC.)

Among those attending the groundbreaking ceremony included City of Anderson Mayor Terence Roberts; Trojan Football Coach Bobby Lamb; AU Vice President for Athletics Dr. Bert Epting; members of the 91福利社 Board of Trust; and state and local community leaders.

Past news about the launch of the first 91福利社 Trojan Football team:

91福利社 Moving Forward with Plan to Launch Football Program
(October 3, 2019)

Spero Financial to Partner with 91福利社 in Launching Trojan Football Program
(June 30, 2021)

Bobby Lamb Named First Head Coach of 91福利社 Trojans Football
(July 13, 2021)

Network Controls Gift Benefits New Trojan Football Program
(July 22, 2021)

Feature: Coach Bobby Lamb has embraced a unique path and a singular mission鈥攖o make a difference in others鈥� lives
(March 4, 2022)

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